Before long, Xie Changsu arrived.
Somewhat different from the fragile impression she had of him, Xie Changsu stood tall and elegant, like a jade-like pine, possessing a noble and handsome demeanor.
Seeing Xiao Mingyue sitting by the edge of the bed, his gaze turned gentle, and he softly walked over.
Xiao Mingyue wore only a rouge-pink soft silk nightgown that fell like fluid clouds, closely tracing her youthful silhouette. Over it, she wore a moon-white sheer gauze robe embroidered with silver thread depicting butterflies among flowers; as she moved, it was as if she were draped in moonlight, soft radiance flowing.
“I have kept My Beloved Consort waiting. My Beloved Consort’s beauty is truly exquisite—a breathtaking sight.”
Xie Changsu’s voice was pleasant to the ear, sounding like gurgling stream water, or even more like early spring meltwater flowing over blue stones—crisp and clear with a trace of un-melted chill.
“This humble concubine pays respects to Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty, for the generous praise.” Her black hair was half-coiled, loosely secured with a red-gold hairpin inlaid with kingfisher feathers and dangling pearls. The pearl tassels hung down to her shoulder blades, swaying gently with every movement to reflect a soft halo of light.
A pair of East Sea pearl earrings hung at her ears, their luster complementing her fair skin. Her wrists bore no complex golden bangles; she wore only a single translucent jade bracelet, which made her delicate wrist bones appear exquisitely slender.
Xie Changsu had always known she was beautiful, yet when she truly stood before him in such sheer, light nightwear—resembling a blossom waiting to be plucked—he still couldn’t help but swallow softly.
He was not a lustful man. The inner palace was filled with numerous beauties, yet none had ever been like her: seemingly soft and graceful, yet with subtle undercurrents hidden beneath her eyes, which bestowed upon her a unique aura distinct from all others.
Taking her slender hand in his, Xie Changsu led her toward the bedside. Looking at her with deep eyes, he asked, “Did the palace matrons teach you how to serve?”
Xiao Mingyue nodded, nervously swallowing her saliva.
She had once imagined her wedding night as well, though the person in her fantasies had not been Xie Changsu.
The instruction matrons had said this was the most wonderful thing in the world, yet she harbored no other feelings for Xie Changsu. She didn’t know whether doing such a thing would bring pain or pleasure.
Xiao Mingyue felt immensely nervous. Reaching out her hands, she intended to follow what the matron had taught her—unfastening Xie Changsu’s robes first—only for him to suddenly grasp her wrist.
Candlelight flickered as the atmosphere turned intimate. Xiao Mingyue felt her cheeks burning hot, and her gaze involuntarily softened into a pool of autumn water, shimmering with tender affection.
Good heavens, this is far too embarrassing! What is she doing? Why is her heart beating so fast? Is she the one conquering Xie Changsu, or is Xie Changsu conquering her?
“Wh—what is it?” Xiao Mingyue didn’t dare look at Xie Changsu. He was so handsome; those affectionate, star-like eyes were like a whirlpool, easily tempting one into sin.
“It’s rare to see you so coy. I wish to admire it for a moment.” The corners of Xie Changsu’s lips curved upward. His large palm holding her hand suddenly stroked her wrist, its scorching heat burning through her composure.
What did he mean by that? Was she being very coy right now? Why did he want to admire her like this?
Xie Changsu was like a fox, effortlessly captivating her heart.
Perhaps the atmosphere was simply too thick with passion, for the surrounding air rapidly heated up. The spark ignited into a blaze, and before Xiao Mingyue could even react, she was already lying on the soft bed.
“Xie Changsu…”
“Hmm?”
“Could you… be a bit gentler?”
“Alright.”
In the middle of such a perfect atmosphere, a voice suddenly echoed in her head—the System, screaming at the absolute peak of excitement and thrill:
【AAAAAHHH Host, Xie Changsu’s favorability score just soared to 99.9%!!!】
【AAAAAHHH Host, how is your favorability score toward him at 99.9% too?!】
【What is going on with you two?! When did you fall in love with each other behind my back! Why didn’t anyone tell me, or I would have swapped out your conquest target!】
Xiao Mingyue froze. How had Xie Changsu’s favorability score jumped so high all of a sudden?
Wait!
Why was her favorability score like that too?
Was the System brain-dead? Did something go wrong somewhere?
The person she used to love was Feng Buji—why did it show that her favorability score toward Xie Changsu was so high at a time like this?
Xie Changsu gently kissed her cheek, his warm breath fanning against her neck as he murmured, “What are you thinking about?”
“Ah?” Xiao Mingyue snapped out of her daze, her face flushing a deep crimson. Fortunately, the beaded curtains and bed drapes had been drawn down, dimming the light so it wasn’t easily noticeable. However, her body felt exceedingly hot, as if burning with fire.
“Nothing, I…”
As the canopy drapes fell, the candlelight cast their entwined silhouettes against the fabric, not resting until the first light of dawn began to break…